Have A Nice Christmas: Holiday Hits Of The 70's

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Musically, the 1970's was a decade of extremes. It was the golden age of classic rock, glam, heavy metal, funk, disco, and outlaw country. But, it was also the decade of soft rock, smooth jazz, "Billy Don't Be A Hero," "Seasons In The Sun," "Afternoon Delight," Debbie Boone, the Captain & Tennille, and the Bay City Rollers. And, that's the decade portrayed by Have A Nice Christmas: Holiday Hits Of The 70's (1994), one of numerous compact disc compilations by Rhino Records that documented the history of recorded Christmas music in the 20th century.

However, Have A Nice Christmas is a somewhat different animal than sterling Rhino collections like Hipsters' Holiday, Punk Rock Xmas, or Swingin' Christmas. Those CD's culled the very best holiday music of a particular genre. Have A Nice Christmas, on the other hand, celebrates the excesses of "The Me Decade," when taste went out the window in favor of wanton hedonism and eccentric exhibitionism. Predictably, much of Have A Nice Christmas is pretty wretched - though sometimes in very entertaining ways.

You see, there were plenty of wonderful Christmas records released during the 70's (more on that in a minute), but these aren't them. Rather, these are the songs that reflect the decade's kitschiest artifacts: smiley faces, polyester pants, lava lamps, mirror balls, and leisure suits. I mean, some of the highest-profile Christmas albums of the 70's were by the Osmonds, the Partridge Family, John Denver, and the Carpenters - hardly paragons of hip, even if some of those albums had fine moments. Even the Brady Bunch got in on the act, which Rhino inexplicably failed to exploit on Have A Nice Christmas.

Don't Crush That Elf, Hand Me The Pliers

On Have A Nice Christmas, we get two Christmas songs by the Osmonds, two by Bobby Sherman, and one by Ricky Segall, who portrayed Little Ricky on the Partridge Family TV show - though, weirdly, none by the Partridge Family themselves. Rhino was so desperate to make their case that they tossed in a Liberace medley recorded in 1954 - as if "Grandpa's Christmas Wish" from The Waltons wasn't bad enough! Now, I get a big kick out of this stuff, but I can see how most folks wouldn't. After all, who wants to do the "Jingle Bell Hustle" with Wayne Newton? If you do, danke schoen and meet me at the disco!

Really, Have A Nice Christmas errs most egregiously when it's not bad enough. Marilyn Monroe is often quoted as saying, "It's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring," and the tracks by Glen Campbell, Bobby Sherman, and the Osmonds are exactly that - simply boring, not the ridiculous transgressions of good taste we were led to expect. Even the Jimmy Castor Bunch, who perpetrated such ridiculousness as "The Bertha Butt Boogie," can't muster the balls to desecrate Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song." Rather, they play it straight, turning in a burnished ballad that borders on boring, even if it's too soulful to cross that line. Mostly, however, Have A Nice Christmas is just as bad as we feared - and just as bad as we hoped it would be.

The thing is, I came of age in the 70's, so I actually like most of Have A Nice Christmas. In fact, I recommend more than half of its tracks (see below). I even like Wayne Newton's smarmy "Jingle Bell Hustle," which shows you I have a high tolerance for pain - or a well-honed appreciation for camp. I should also point out that Have A Nice Christmas includes several rarely collected tracks, including Christmas ballads by Jim Croce ("It Doesn't Have To Be That Way") and Melanie ("Merry Christmas"). It also captures both sides of Martin Mull's hilarious 1973 holiday single, as well as Cheech & Chong's non-LP stoner comedy classic, "Santa Claus And His Old Lady."

Everything That Glitters Is Canceled

Have A Nice Christmas also marks one of the few appearances of Gary Glitter's "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" on an American collection. Turns out there are good reasons for that. In America, Gary Glitter was a one-hit wonder known mostly mostly for the weird, quasi-instrumental song "Rock And Roll, Part 2," which became a Top 10 hit in 1972 during the glam rock craze. It was actually a b-side of a more straight-ahead song called, predictably, "Rock And Roll, Part 1."

In Europe, however, Gary Glitter (an Englishman, real name Paul Gadd) was one of the biggest stars of the 1970's, with a long string of hits that spanned the decade including "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock And Roll)," "I Am The Leader Of The Gang (I Am)," and "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)," which Joan Jett later covered to great effect. It's worth noting, though, that "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" was actually released in 1984 - not during the 1970's, Taken from Glitter's album, Boys Will Be Boys, the single hit #7 on the UK charts. It his last big hit.

With his career already in decline, Gary Glitter was charged with possession of child pornography in 1997, then convicted and imprisoned in 1999. In the coming years, he would remain in trouble (or jail) in a variety of countries for a variety of child sex-related charges, including rape. Unsurprisingly, "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" rarely popped up on Christmas compilations thereafter, and Gary Glitter's music largely (though not completely) disappeared from the marketplace. Even "Rock And Roll, Part 2," which had become a ubiquitous chant at sporting events, evaporated from the culture.

(Not) Sucking In The 70's

Now, I said earlier that plenty of wonderful Christmas records were released during the 70's. That is both true and false. Christmas music had been on a steady decline since the early 60's, particularly after the British Invasion and the rise of the counterculture. Christmas music simply wasn't hip anymore. Less of it was made, and less of it was sold. By the 1970's, it was almost in hibernation - relatively speaking.

But, there was significant and, indeed, hip Christmas music released in the 1970's. To prove my point, I've compiled ad hoc lists of some of the best and most notable singles and albums (in chronological order) that we haven't already discussed. Most of them, you will see, were recorded by established artists - who had less to risk - and released early in the decade before the epicurean zeitgeist of the 70's really kicked in. Certainly, there is enough to compile a really good collection, rather than the musical freak show that is Have A Nice Christmas.

70's Christmas Singles and Tracks

• Beginning Of The End, "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas" (1970)
• Emotions, "Black Christmas" (1970)
• Donny Hathaway, "This Christmas" (1970)
• Laura Nyro, "Christmas In My Soul" (1970)
• Shawn Phillips, "A Christmas Song" (1970)
• Staple Singers, "Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas" (1970)
• Sweetwater, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" (1970)
• Brook Benton, "Soul Santa" (1991)
• John Lennon, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" (1971)
• Joni Mitchell, "River" (1971)
• Everly Brothers, "Christmas Eve Can Kill You" (1972)
• Mary Hopkin, "Mary Had A Baby" (1972)
• Harry Nilsson, "Remember (Christmas)" (1972)
• Leon Russell, "Slipping Into Christmas" (1972)
• Bill Withers, "The Gift Of Giving" (1972)
• Argent, "Christmas For The Free" (1973)
• Cix Bits, "Season's Greetings" (1973)
• Commander Cody, "Daddy's Drinking Up Our Christmas" (1973)
• Edward Bear, "Coming Home Christmas" (1973)
• Merle Haggard, "If We Make It Through December" (1973)
• Elton John, "Step Into Christmas" (1973)
• Mud, "Lonely This Christmas" (1973)
• John Prine, "Christmas In Prison" (1973)
• Slade, "Merry Xmas Everybody" (1973)
• Rufus Thomas, "I'll Be Your Santa Baby" (1973)
• Roy Wood & Wizzard, "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" (1973)
• George Harrison, "Ding Dong, Ding Dong' (1974)
• Albert King, "Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'" (1974)
• Gordon Lightfoot, "Circle Of Steel" (1974)
• Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Christmas Song" (1974)
• Sparks, "Thank God It's Not Christmas" (1974)
• Wombles, "Wombling Merry Christmas" (1974)
• Big Star, "Jesus Christ" (1975)
• Elvin Bishop, "Silent Night" (1975)
• Marc Bolan & T. Rex, "Christmas Bop" (1975)
• Chris DeBurgh, "A Spaceman Came Traveling" (1975)
• Greg Lake, "I Believe In Father Christmas" (1975)
• Ohio Players, "Happy Holidays" (1975)
• Bruce Springsteen "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (1975)
• Can, "Silent Night" (1976)
• Jethro Tull, "Ring Out, Solstice Bells" (1976)
• Natural Gas, "Christmas Song" (1976)
• The Band, "Christmas Must Be Tonight" (1977)
• David Bowie & Bing Crosby, Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy (1977)
• Kinks, "Father Christmas" (1977)
• Barry Manilow, "It's Just Another New Year's Eve" (1977)
• Neil Young, "Star Of Bethlehem" (1977)
• Angel, "Christmas Song" (1978)
• Eagles, "Please Come Home For Christmas" (1978)
• Foghat, "Run Rudolph Run" (1978)
• Robert Gordon with Link Wray, "Blue Christmas" (1978)
• Keith Richards, "Run Rudolph Run" (1978)
• Tom Waits, "Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis" (1978)
• Kurtis Blow, Christmas Rappin' (1979)
• Paul McCartney, "Wonderful Christmastime" (1979)

70's Christmas Albums

• James Brown, Hey America (1970)
  The Godfather of Soul made his biggest contributions to soul and funk in the 50's and 60's, but Hey America was technically released in the 70's, so it counts! The album includes such classics as "Go Power At Christmas," "Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay," and the title track.
• Jackson 5, Christmas Album (1970)
  Michael Jackson and his brothers were one of the last hurrahs of Motown's "Golden Decade," which is firmly rooted in the 1960's. But, again, their Christmas Album was technically released in the 70's. It includes numerous great performances including their definitive take on "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town."
• Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, A Season For Miracles (1970)
  Another Motown album that technically squeaks by, A Season For Miracles was the group's second Christmas album and includes some fine moments such as Smokey's original song, "I Believe In Christmas Eve." He left the group in 1972 and launched a long, successful solo career.
• Temptations, Christmas Card (1970)
  Yet another Motown album, the Temptations' Christmas Card was their first-ever holiday album. It showcased their smoother side, as it featured Paul Williams rather than David Ruffin, the formidable baritone who left in 1968. Their take on "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" is transformational.
• Elvis Presley, Wonderful World Of Christmas (1971)
  The King's second Christmas and final album is part of the great renaissance that followed in the wake of his 1968 comeback, and it includes a variety of original songs and traditional covers. There's a lot to love on Wonderful World, but his six-minute jam on Charles Brown's "Merry Christmas Baby" is revelatory.
• Gladys Knight & The Pips, Bless This House (1974)
  Knight spent much of the 1960's at Motown where she never waxed a Christmas record - the biggest Motown star to not do so. Bless This House was recorded for her new label, Buddah, and it's a quiet, reverent affair. It only hints at the fire that yielded "Midnight Train To Georgia," "I've Got to Use My Imagination," and other 70's hits.
• John Fahey, Christmas With John Fahey Vol. 2 (1975)
  This was acoustic guitarist extraordinaire John Fahey's follow-up to his 1968 masterwork, The New Possibility (1968). It was folk music that made you prick up your ears and pay attention. After this, he would record three more Christmas albums, none with quite the same magic as the two originals.
• Various Artists, Funky Christmas (1976)
  Cotillion Records' erstwhile sequel to Atco's 1968 masterpiece Soul Christmas was neither a masterpiece nor terribly funky. It was a generally low-key, though very soulful album most notable for the appearance of the post-Curtis Mayfield Impressions and the introduction of Luther Vandross.
• Salsoul Orchestra, Christmas Jollies (1976)
  The most significant disco Christmas album ever, Christmas Jollies was also a bit of a letdown from Salsoul's usual vapid-but-fun fare. It was just as vapid, but not as much fun. They would record another in 1981, and it would all be reissued in spectacular fashion by Real Gone Music in 2023.
• Whispers, Happy Holidays To You (1979)
  In recording Happy Holidays To You, the Whispers were helping reclaim Christmas music for their audience - the emergent black middle class. And, while not exactly a hit, the album made a lasting impression. In 1981, critic David McGee included it on his foundational list of essential Christmas albums, and it's been reissued over and over in the decades since.
• Emmylou Harris, Light Of The Stable (1979)
  Emmylou's quietly brilliant album wasn't all that unusual since, relative to other genres, the conservative field of country music saw less of a downturn in Christmas music during the 70's. Among others, Merle Haggard, Freddy Fender, and Willie Nelson released Christmas albums during the decade. What made Light Of The Stable notable was how it almost broke the mold - and certainly raised the bar - for what country Christmas music could be.

By the late 70's, punk rock and new wave were starting to revive the idea that Christmas music could be a suitable subject for hipster acts to tackle - though often as an object of ridicule. By the late 80's and the advent of A Very Special Christmas (1987), holiday music was back. By the 21st century and the advent of the internet, the new modern age was upon us - and I haven't slept a wink since.

(Reindeer) Gonna Fly Now

Not insignificantly, Rhino Records intended the holiday hilarity on Have A Nice Christmas as icing on the Christmas cake for their marathon Have A Nice Day: Super Hits Of The 70's series, a 25-volume survey of chart oddities from the 1970's. It mixes genuinely great one-hit wonders like Argent's "Hold Your Head Up" (1971), Billy Swan's "I Can Help" (1974), and Warren Zevon's "Werewolves Of London" (1978) with goofy curios like Shocking Blue's "Venus" (1970), Vicki Lawrence's "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia," and Rick Dees' "Disco Duck" (1976). Strongly recommended for people with strong stomachs.

Finally, Rhino collections like Have A Nice Christmas were very much a product of the CD era. Rhino usually licensed tracks from many disparate labels for use on specific compact discs - long before there was such a thing as iTunes or Spotify. So, sadly, Have A Nice Christmas and other Rhino Christmas collections did not make the leap to the world of downloads or streaming. That said, you can find most of the tracks on other sources. Good luck and, of course, have a nice day. [top of page]

Albums

• Have A Nice Christmas: Holiday Hits Of The 70's (1994)

Essential Songs

• Another Rock And Roll Christmas (Gary Glitter, 1984)
• The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) (Jimmy Castor Bunch, 1975)
• It Doesn't Have To Be That Way (Jim Croce, 1973)
• Jingle Bell Hustle (Wayne Newton, 1976)
• Merry Christmas (Melanie, 1970)
• Santa Claus And His Old Lady (Cheech & Chong, 1971)
• Santa Doesn't Cop Out On Dope (Martin Mull, 1973)
• Santafly (Martin Mull, 1973)
• Yesterday's Christmas (Bobby Sherman, 1970)

Further Listening

• Christmas Card (The Partridge Family, 1971)
• Christmas Portrait (The Carpenters, 1978)
• A Christmas Together (John Denver & The Muppets, 1979)
• Dr. Demento Presents The Greatest Christmas Novelty CD Of All Time (various artists, 1989)
• Legends Of Christmas Past: A Rock 'n' R&B Holiday Collection (various artists, 1992)
• The Rhino Christmas Compilations (various artists, 1984-2001)
• VH1: The Big 80's Christmas (various artists, 2001)

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